Nemesia Plant Named &#39;Easter Bonnet&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  Nemesia  plant particularly distinguished by a prolific display of bi-colored flowers whose upper petal is soft lavender pink and lower petal is a contrasting cream white with a prominent orange-yellow eye, and strongly fragrant flowers, is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Nemesia foetens

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Easter Bonnet’

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Nemesiaplant grown as an ornamental for use in garden and landscape borders, orin containers. The new variety is known botanically as Nemesia foetensand will be referred to hereinafter by the variety name ‘Easter Bonnet’.

‘Easter Bonnet’ resulted from a formal breeding program begun by theinventor in 1998 at her nursery in West Sussex, United Kingdom. Thepurpose of the breeding program is to produce new varieties of Nemesiathat exhibit compact habit and new flower colors and color combinations.

In 2011, the inventor conducted a controlled cross-pollination betweentwo unreleased and unpatented selections of Nemesia from the inventor'sbreeding program, namely Nemesia code number ‘1100’ (unpatented) as themale parent and Nemesia code number ‘1156’ (unpatented) as the femaleparent. ‘Easter Bonnet’ was selected by the inventor in 2012 for itsattractive bi-colored flowers and prominent orange-yellow eye. Inaddition, ‘Easter Bonnet’ exhibits an upright compact rounded habit,medium-green leaves, and strongly fragrant flowers.

‘Easter Bonnet’ was first asexually propagated by the inventor in 2012in an unheated greenhouse at the inventor's nursery in West Sussex,United Kingdom using softwood cuttings. The inventor has determined that‘Easter Bonnet’ is stable and uniform, and reproduces true to type insuccessive generations of asexual reproduction via softwood cuttings.

SUMMARY

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thedistinguishing characteristics of ‘Easter Bonnet’. ‘Easter Bonnet’ hasnot been tested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differencesmay be observed with variations in environmental, climatic, and culturalconditions, without however, any variance in genotype.

1. ‘Easter Bonnet’ exhibits a compact upright habit.

2. A 6 months old plant of ‘Easter Bonnet’ grown in a 9 cm container is15 cm in height and 10-12 cm in width.

3. A 9 months old plant of ‘Easter Bonnet’ grown in a 13 cm container is25-30 cm in height and 18-20 cm in width.

4. ‘Easter Bonnet’ exhibits bicolor flowers which have a soft lavenderpink upper petal and a creamy white lower petal.

5. The flowers of ‘Easter Bonnet’ exhibit a prominentorange-yellow-colored palate or “eye”.

6. ‘Easter Bonnet’ is floriferous.

7. ‘Easter Bonnet’ flowers are pleasantly fragrant with a vanilla scent.

8. ‘Easter Bonnet’ has a long blooming period, from early spring untilfall.

9. ‘Easter Bonnet’ is hardy to −6° Celsius and survives in USDA Zone 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance ofthe new Nemesia cultivar ‘Easter Bonnet’ showing the colors as true asit is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of thistype. The photographs were taken in April 2014.

FIG. 1 shows a 9-month old plant grown from a cutting in a 1-litercontainer outdoors in Oxnard, Calif. The plant has been grown naturally,without the use of pinching or chemical growth regulator treatments.

FIG. 2 depicts a close-up view of the flowers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘Easter Bonnet’. Observations, measurements, values,and comparisons were collected in August, 2014 in Santa Barbara, Calif.from a 9-month old plant grown outdoors in a 13 cm diameter container.Color determinations were made in accordance with The 2007 RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart from London England.

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Plantaginaceae.        -   Genus.—Nemesia.        -   Species.—foetens.        -   Common name.—Nemesia.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Nemesia code number ‘1156’ (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—Nemesia code number ‘1100’ (unpatented).-   Plant description:    -   -   Growth habit.—Upright, compact habit.        -   Vigor.—Vigorous.        -   Plant dimensions.—6-month old: 15 cm in height and 10 cm to            12 cm in width. 9-month old: 25 cm to 30 cm in height and 18            cm to 20 cm in width.        -   Type.—Perennial in USDA zones 9 and warmer; annual in zones            colder than zone 9.        -   Root system.—Fine.        -   Hardiness.—Hardy to minus 6° Centigrade.-   Propagation: Softwood cuttings    -   -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 14 days are needed to            develop roots on initial cuttings.        -   Temperatures to initiate rooting.—The air temperature that            is recommended for rooting is 16° Centigrade and the soil            temperature that is recommended for rooting is 24°            Centigrade.        -   Crop time.—Approximately 8 weeks are needed to produce a            finished 9 cm container plant from a rooted cutting.        -   Special or recommended growing requirements.—Pruning: Pinch            back the growing tips when potting into the final growing            container. Soil: 70% medium grade peat, 10% coarse peat and            20% 12 mm bark. Suggested commercial container size: 9 cm or            13 cm diameter containers. Cultural needs: Full sun, moist            well-draining soil or peat-based medium, and application of            a general plant fertilizer during the growing season.-   Stems:    -   -   Stem shape.—Quadrate.        -   Stem length.—12 cm.        -   Stem diameter.—3 mm.        -   Stem surface.—Glabrous.        -   Stem color.—138B.        -   Pubescence.—Absent.        -   Internode length.—2.5 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Basal.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Type.—Evergreen.        -   Leaf shape.—Ovate.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf apex.—Acute.        -   Leaf base.—Rounded.        -   Leaf margins.—Entire.        -   Leaf surface (both surfaces).—Glabrous.        -   Leaf length.—Fully developed, from 3.0 cm to 3.5 cm.        -   Leaf width.—12 mm to 15 mm.        -   Leaf color.—Upper surface: 138A. Lower surface: 138B.        -   Leaf attachment.—Predominately sessile.        -   Vein pattern.—Pinnate with mid-vein depressed on upper            surface and protruding mid-vein on lower surface.        -   Vein color (both surfaces).—138C.-   Petioles (when present):    -   -   Petiole shape.—Sulcate.        -   Petiole surface.—Glabrous.        -   Petiole dimensions.—1 mm to 4 mm in length and 2 mm in            width.        -   Petiole color.—138B.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Flowering season.—Spring, summer, and fall. Flowers            repeatedly through the year, flowers are bicolored lavender            pink and cream-white in color. The flowers also exhibit a            prominent orange-yellow eye.        -   Fragrance.—Strong vanilla fragrance.        -   Self-cleaning or persistent.—Markedly self-cleaning.        -   Type of inflorescence.—Terminal racemes. Length: 4 cm.            Width: 4 cm. Quantity per plant: Approximately 100 to 120            racemes. Quantity of flowers per raceme: A range of 18 to 20            flowers and buds. Lastingness of individual flower on the            plant: An individual flower lasts 7 to 10 days.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Surface.—Glabrous.        -   Height.—3 mm.        -   Diameter.—5 mm.        -   Shape.—Ovoid.        -   Color.—NN155D (as petals first emerge).-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—4 cm to 5 cm.        -   Diameter.—2 mm.        -   Shape.—Quadrate.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Color.—138B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower shape.—Personate.        -   Flower dimensions.—Height: 21 mm. Width: 17 mm. Depth: 8 mm.        -   Pedicel.—Length: 12 to 14 mm. Diameter: less than 1 mm.            Shape: Closest to cylindrical with one longitudinal furrow.            Texture: Glabrous. Color: 138B.        -   Petals.—Corolla: Tube pouch and spur attached to base.            Corolla tube dimensions: 4 mm in length and 3 mm in            diameter. Corolla tube color (inner and outer surfaces):            NN155D. Upper petal: Color: Upper surface: Ranges between            75A (newly open) and 85C at 7-10 days. Lower surface:            NN155D. Length: 15 mm. Width: 18 mm. Margins: Entire. Apex:            Rounded. Texture (both surfaces): Glabrous Lobes: Number: 4,            basally fused. Outer lobes: 5 mm in width, 9 mm in length.            Inner lobes: 4 mm in width, 9 mm in length. Pollinator guide            lines: Approximately 15 parallel fine guide lines 3 mm to 5            mm in length, 92A in color. Lower petal: Color (both            surfaces): Ranges between 4C and NN155B. Length: 10 mm.            Width: 14 cm. Margins: Entire. Apex: Emarginate. Texture            (both surfaces): Glabrous.        -   Sepals.—Calyx: Diameter: 7 mm. Depth: 1.5 mm. Shape:            Stellate. Quantity: 5, basally fused. Sepal surface:            Pubescent. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal shape: Lanceolate. Sepal            dimensions: 3 mm in length and 1.5 mm in width. Sepal            margin: Entire. Sepal color (both surfaces): 138B. Palate            color: 13A becoming 12A as flower ages. Palate dimensions: 3            mm in length and 3 mm in width. Nectary guide: Absent.            Nectary throat (appears as pouch externally): Width at base            of flower: 4 mm. Color: Interior: 160A. Exterior: 160C.            Nectary funnel (appears as spur externally): Length: 4 mm.            Diameter: 1 mm. Color (both surfaces): 160C. Nectary            surface: Smooth, semi-glossy.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Number: 4. Two discrete: Length: 4 mm Diameter: 0.5            mm nearer, 3 mm from upper petal base. Two rudimentary:            Length: less than 0.5 mm. Diameter: 0.6 mm from upper petal            base. Color: 155C. Anther: Color: 163B. Length: 0.50 mm.            Width: 0.50 mm. Pollen: None observed.        -   Pistil.—Ovary: Shape: Ovoid. Length: 1.25 mm. Diameter:            1 mm. Color: 141C. Surface: Glossy. Pistil number: One,            rudimentary, appears as tiny stub. Pistil color: 155C.-   Fruit/seed set: None observed.-   Disease and pest susceptibility: ‘Easter Bonnet’ is susceptible to    aphid-transmitted viruses and to whitefly.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘Easter Bonnet’ is distinguishable from the male parent, ‘1100’(unpatented) as follows: whereas the flowers of ‘Easter Bonnet’ arebi-colored exhibiting a soft lavender pink upper petal and a cream whitecolored lower petal, with an orange-yellow eye, the flowers of the maleparent exhibit a pink upper petal and pale yellow lower petal.Additionally ‘Easter Bonnet’ exhibits an upright compact habit withstrongly fragrant flowers, whereas ‘1100’ has a more open, less compacthabit and significantly less scented flowers.

‘Easter Bonnet’ is distinguishable from the female parent, ‘1156’(unpatented) as follows: whereas the flowers of ‘Easter Bonnet’ arebi-colored with a soft lavender pink upper petal and a cream whitecolored lower petal, with an orange-yellow eye, the flowers of thefemale parent are entirely mauve in color. Additionally, ‘1156’ exhibitsa dwarf habit, growing to an average of 15 cm at maturity while ‘EasterBonnet’ averages 25 to 30 cm at maturity.

The closest comparison plant known to the inventor is the inventor'svariety, ‘FLEURIPI’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,851). ‘FLEURIPI’ isdistinguishable from ‘Easter Bonnet’ as follows: Mature plants of‘FLEURIPI’ are shorter in height than plants of ‘Easter Bonnet’.‘FLEURIPI’ has strong pink colored flowers compared to ‘Easter Bonnet’which has bi-colored flowers with a soft lavender pink upper petal and acream white colored lower petal, with a prominent orange-yellow eye.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Nemesia plant named ‘EasterBonnet’ as described and illustrated herein.